BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new study in Population Health Management from MDVIP (MD-Value In Prevention) highlights how a primary care model based on personalized preventive care achieves definitive cost savings and improved health management within three years of adoption. The study, appearing in the February 2016 edition of the peer-reviewed journal, reinforces earlier research published in 2012 in the American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC) proving the efficacy of the MDVIP model.
The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact on healthcare usage and expense trends for patients participating in a personalized preventive care program over the course of three years. This analysis included a commercial population of over 10,000 MDVIP members and 10,000 control patients.
The study findings include:
- Utilization trends for years 1, 2 and 3 investigated the potential source of healthcare savings and found significantly lower rates for emergency room visits and urgent care facility use by MDVIP members versus control patients.
- Average medical and pharmacy expenditure trends for years 1, 2 and 3 indicated that members’ cost trends exceeded those of control patients, but the gap narrowed over time that by year 3 expenditures between the two were similar. The initial increase was driven by pharmaceutical costs indicating greater oversight by MDVIP-affiliated physicians and compliance by their members.
- Over time, the health plan realized increasing cost savings for members as compared to non-members.
- While older age groups were more likely to realize savings in the early years indicating chronic condition management, the younger age groups were most likely to achieve savings by the third year, supporting the hypothesis that prevention saves money.
“The data speaks for itself and corroborates several of our other studies published in journals like the AJMC, Future Cardiology, and International Journal of Person Centered Medicine showing the clinical and economic value of a close doctor-patient partnership that enables a level of personalized care that’s just not possible in volume medicine today. This is a key reason why we’re keeping people out of the hospital, out of urgent care centers and emergency rooms and delivering better health outcomes. MDVIP is the flag bearer for the goals of healthcare reform relating to enhanced patient-physician relationships focused on preventive care that drive improved outcomes and reduced costs. Our model proves that we’re doing it right on all fronts,” said Dr. Andrea Klemes, Chief Medical Officer of MDVIP.
The innovative MDVIP model, with its emphasis on promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors and identifying and preventing disease while addressing care coordination, differs from a traditional primary care practice that concentrates primarily on reactive care to address symptoms and acute health problems. The model leverages the breadth of experience of physicians who provide an annual 60-90 minute wellness visit that includes health screenings, advanced diagnostic testing and personalized coaching for nutrition and exercise. With a smaller panel of approximately 600 patients, as opposed to the 2,000 or more in a conventional primary care practice, the MDVIP doctor and patient have the time to work together to develop a customized wellness plan they implement throughout the year.
The study was conducted by Optum. Contributing researchers include: Shirley Musich, PhD, Shaohung Wang, PhD, Kevin Hawkins, PhD, and Andrea Klemes, DO, FACE.
The article, “The Impact of Personalized Preventive Care on Healthcare Quality, Utilization and Expenditures,” is published online in Population Health Management.
About MDVIP
MDVIP, Inc. is the national leader in affordable personalized healthcare offered by over 830 affiliated primary care physicians across the United States who are committed to empowering people to take charge of their health. MDVIP physicians limit the size of their practices in order to invest the time needed to provide highly individualized service and attention, including a comprehensive preventive care program and customized wellness plan. Published outcomes comparing MDVIP members to patients in traditional primary care practices include lower hospitalization rates, which yield significant cost savings to patients, employers, insurers and the healthcare system. Celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, MDVIP was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida. For more information, visit MDVIP on our website, Facebook page, Twitter, YouTube channel or to hear Dr. Klemes speak about this study, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQeBp7HnAZk or visit MDVIP’s press room.
About the Journal
Population Health Management is an authoritative peer-reviewed journal published bimonthly in print and online that reflects the expanding scope of healthcare management and quality. The Journal delivers a comprehensive, integrated approach to the field of population health and provides information designed to improve the systems and policies that affect health care quality, access, and outcomes. Comprised of peer-reviewed original research papers, clinical research, and case studies, the content encompasses a broad range of chronic diseases (such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic pain, diabetes, depression, and obesity) in addition to focusing on various aspects of prevention and wellness. Tables of content and a sample issue may be viewed on the Population Health Management website. Population Health Management is the official journal of the Population Health Alliance.
